<![CDATA[Nigeria's mining sector was once a major driver of national economic growth during the 1960s and 1970s, but its prominence declined sharply following the rise of the crude oil industry, leaving it with a marginal GDP share of just 0.17% between 2018 and 2022. Reports from the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission highlight that the country's Southwestern states possess rich mineral reserves such as gold, tin, zircon, rutile, feldspar, and quartz giving the region strong potential to emerge as a global mining hub. Realizing this potential, however, has been constrained by illegal mining operations, overlapping land-use claims, and a lack of reliable spatial data, all of which have undermined effective resource planning and revenue collection. In response, this study carried out a spatial mapping exercise to delineate zones suitable for mineral exploration and extraction, drawing on land use and land cover data to distinguish built-up settlements, licensed mining concessions, and legally restricted zones as defined under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007. Findings show that of the region's total 78,771 km² landmass, 13,755.7 km² is already under licence, while 49,765.2 km² representing 63.2% of the area remains available for future mineral leasing. The analysis further identified 1,434 active mining sites, over half of which (759, or 52.9%) overlap with land designated for residential expansion, pointing to considerable spatial conflict. The study concludes that GIS-driven spatial analysis offers a robust tool for guiding licence allocation, land-use planning, and environmentally responsible mining development across Nigeria.]]>
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